Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

This species has been assigned to the Landscape species management stream under the Saving our Species program.

Justification for allocation to this management stream

This species is distributed across relatively large areas and is subject to threatening processes that generally act at the landscape scale (e.g. habitat loss or degradation) rather than at distinct, defineable locations. Nesting sites may require specific management.

Conservation status in NSW:

Vulnerable

Commonwealth status:

Not listed

Management objectives

The conservation project aims to secure the species in the wild for 100 years and maintain its conservation status under the TSC Act.

The conservation project aims to secure the species in the wild in NSW for 100 years, engage local communities in its conservation, and encourage the NSW community to identify with it as a flagship for threatened species conservation.

This action statement aims to address key knowledge gaps for this species, which once resolved, can inform effective managment of this species.

This action statement aims to ensure the security of this species in the long-term.

This action statement aims to ensure that the species is secure in the wild in NSW and that its NSW geographic range is extended or maintained.

This action statement aims to secure critical populations of this species in NSW in the long-term.

This action statement aims to secure this population in the long-term.

This action statement aims to maximise the extent of occurrence and condition of the ecological community across NSW.

Species sightings and management sites across NSW

The map below displays the species’ distribution in NSW, based upon the species’ geographic range, habitat distribution or area of occupancy (to as high a resolution as available data allow, using a range of data sources).

The map may also display one or more management sites where management of important populations is underway. More information is available in the tables below.

Your search returned one or more sites that are restricted due to the sensitive nature of either the species or the site. Individuals involved in management on these sites can access detailed information via the database.

IBRA

The species occurs in the following IBRA (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia) regions in NSW:

NSW North Coast

New England Tablelands

Darling Riverine Plains

Brigalow Belt South

Nandewar

Channel Country

Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields

Mulga Lands

Cobar Peneplain

Broken Hill Complex

Murray Darling Depression

NSW South Western Slopes

South Eastern Highlands

Riverina

Sydney Basin

Australian Alps

South East Corner

Proportion of the species' distribution on reserve

7% of the species' distribution occurs on reserve (within NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service estate).

Critical actions for this species

The key threats to the viability of landscape-managed species are loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, and widespread pervasive factors such as impacts of climate change and disease. Many of these threats are addressed by NSW planning, native vegetation, and biodiversity legislation, policy and programs including the offsets program (BioBanking, NSW Biodiversity Offsets Policy for Major Projects), Biodiversity Certification, management of environmental water and reservation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

The actions listed in the action toolbox are supplementary to NSW legislation, policy and programs and can be used by stakeholders, where applicable to guide management at a site, regional or state scale.

Action toolbox

Action Description

Scale

Avoid the use of pindone in rabbit eradication programs in areas where spotted harriers are known or likely to occur.

Area

Report suspected poisoning or mortalities to Environment Line (131 555).

Site

Avoid the use of rodenticides in areas where spotted harriers are known or likely to occur.

Site, Area

Protect grassy open woodland including acacia and mallee remnants, inland riparian woodland, grasslands and shrublands, particularly in the NSW sheep wheat belt, Western and Riverine Plains. Where possible, negotiate management agreements with landholders that are funded in perpetuity that allows ongoing recruitment of native local trees, shrubs and grasses.

Site, Area

Identify active or inactive nest sites with stick nests more than 40cm in diameter and protect nests and nest trees from damage and removal. Ensure that active nests are not disturbed during the breeding season (August-December) by restricting activities within 50m of the nest. Monitor active nests to determine breeding success and reproductive output.

Site

Retain living and dead paddock trees and plant or direct seed appropriate local acacia, casuarina, callitris and eucalypt species, to replace these trees in the long-term. Ideally, planted paddock trees should be spaced no more than 50m apart to provide connectivity for other fauna species.

State

Raise awareness amongst land managers of the biodiversity and production value of protecting paddock trees and the need to ensure their replacement over the long term through planting and direct seeding.

State

How will this species be managed?

Priority sites for species are being identified by the Office of Environment and Heritage and other program partners, where feasible, cost-effective and beneficial to the species. Currently, 0 management sites have been identified for this species.

Species profile

The Spotted Harrier is a medium-sized, slender bird of prey having an owl-like facial ruff that creates the appearance of a short, broad head, and long bare yellow legs. The upperparts are blue-grey with dark barring, and the wingtips are black.
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